Brussels hosted last 11 June the 37th meeting of the Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG). The following stand out among the issues considered:
1. Awards and efficient use of spectrum
The framework of the report that will include the member states’ best practices in spectrum allocation processes was presented; it will contain two separate parts, one on awards and the other on efficient use.
This report was originally meant to be approved at this meeting. However, given the interest raised by issues covered by this working item, the RSPG agreed for the draft report to be submitted to public consultation before it is completed, with approval at the February 2016 meeting of the RSPG.
The document has been placed in public consultation so that all interested parties can submit comments.
2. Wireless backhaul
The report was submitted by the working group and the RSPG agreed with its approval and publication.
Some parts of the report, e.g. with respect to fifth generation (5G), can eventually serve as the basis for developing a new working item to be discussed in the context of the working programme for 2016.
3. Review of the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP)
The current state of the group’s work was reviewed and possible consideration of the following matters indicated:
- before the next RSPG meeting, start of discussions on spectrum issues that need to be considered by the RSPG in the context of the Telecom Review, parallel to ongoing work for the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP);
- orientation regarding the difference between concepts such as making available and designate.
4. RSPG working programme
The following issues stand out regarding the work plan for 2016:
- RSPP revision - the opinion on revision of the RSPP to be completed in early 2016;
- RSPG good offices - work to help administrations with bilateral and multilateral negotiations should continue;
- 5G - the RSPG should produce before the end of 2017 an opinion to identify candidate bands for 5G, including the bands above 6 GHz. Additionally and in order to prepare for the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), it will be useful to draw up a roadmap for future 5G work so that Europe can stay at the forefront of developments.
5. Candidacies for the RSPG chair
The chair indicated that his term finishes at the end of the year and asked whether there were candidates for the group’s chair and vice-chair.
The current vice-chair, from Denmark, indicated that he would be a candidate for the chair and the United Kingdom indicated its intention to be a candidate for the vice-chair position.
The next meetings of the RSPG were scheduled for 15 October 2015 and 24 February, 8 June and 9 November 2016, all in Brussels.
